Additional Details

Despite being located along a thriving South Side commercial district, 8947 S. Commercial Ave. has been unoccupied and derelict for two years. While there are no 311 calls about the building's condition, localized business license for the last group to occupy the store, Garza New and Used Appliances, expired at the beginning of 2010. The water was subsequently shut off by the city.

The site will be the fourth gap in the block's street wall when the building is demolished.

Key Terms

The Chicago Historic Resources Survey is the city's effort to assess the importance of all pre-1940 buildings in the city. "Red" and "Orange" rated buildings are subject to a "demolition hold" of up to 90 days to explore alternatives to demolition. A building's "Status" is updated to "Released" when demolition of the building is allowed.

RED properties possess some architectural feature or historical association that made them potentially significant in the broader context of
the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, or the United States of America. About 300 properties are categorized as "Red" in the CHRS.

ORANGE properties possess some architectural feature or historical association that made them potentially significant in the context of the
surrounding community. About 9,600 properties are categorized as "Orange" in the CHRS.

The Fast Track Abatement Program avoids the court process by allowing the city to repair or demolish buildings three stories or shorter that are "vacant, open, and constitute a hazard to the community."

Location of Series Buildings

About the series

Over the course of 2012 David Schalliol produced a photographic portrait of 100 of the hundreds of buildings threatened with demolition in the city of Chicago. Nearly all of the buildings have since been demolished. Visit the background information section for more information about the project, including definitions and links to other building resources.